Coco Talanoa — Pacific Blog / Page 8

WATCH 📽️ the inspiring story of R&J Honey Producer and Beekeeping Trainer, I'umalo Clayton Simamao who is going the extra mile to help create a thriving honey bee industry in Samoa.

Having trained under the most experienced Beekeepers in Samoa, the humble 31 year old continues to grow his beekeeping operation while sharing his knowledge and time with aspiring and current beekeepers.

I'umalo Clayton will be accessing grant assistance through the World Bank Pacific funded SAFPROM Matching Grant Program for a beeswax extractor and large honey extractor to help boost the production and productivity of his agri-business.

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Credits: 

Film maker: Denisa Maňásková Photography

Writer/Producer: Liz Ah-Hi, Fine Mat Creative for the World Bank Pacific funded Samoa Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity and Marketing (SAFPROM) Project

The Deceptikonz - Savage, Mareko, Frisko & Devolo are back and will be dropping a brand new album on Friday the 16th of December.

It will be 20 years since they first came on the scene with their debut album 'Elimination' which featured the P-Money produced classic 'Fallen Angels'. 

This video takes us behind the scenes with Daniel Maoate aka Frisko where he shares the background on his verse on their latest single 'One Time'.

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Credits: 

Shot and edited by Dave Parker (PARKER FILMS) 

From our most famous artists to sports people and thriving businesses, the humble South Auckland garage has been the heartland for creating some of our biggest success stories.  Here are some of the flavours of the Pacific born and bred from the four walls of a garage ...

"We’re a tinker society with limited access to resources, our Garages become the incubation space from where we build our dreams and hatch our ideas.

They’re also transitional spaces which changes with the context, be it a meeting house for family gatherings and funerals, where we plan our weddings, it becomes a hall for a 21st.  Sleeping quarters noho Marae styles when Family pop in. It was our corporate box for the Tua fights, Manu, MMT and TOA games.

It’s where Popohardwear started in my Sister’s humble garage in Papatoetoe. Luxon ...…more

Grace Malama Maselusi of Vaovai, Falealili is living proof that empowering rural women with access to finance and resources, they can help improve the livelihoods of their families and entire communities by reducing poverty, malnutrition and hunger.

📽 Watch Grace's story "In Her Hands: Feeding the Future" to see how she secured a better future for her family through farming while contributing to the increase and sustainability of nutritious vegetables in her village and district.

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Dave Letele aka Brown Buttabean aka the 'New Zealand Local Hero of the Year' is teaming up with PERSOLKELLY recruitment to help drive the 3,500 'boots on the ground' needed for the 2023 Census.  

Thousands of workers are needed to help deliver the 2023 census and Dave is putting the call out to people of all ages, stages, backgrounds and ethnicities to get involved and help ensure everyone taks part, is counted and represented in the data collected.  It's particularly important our Maori and Pasifika communities are accounted for.

As someone who sees the power of community in action daily at his BBM Motivation programme, Dave Letele was compelled to get involved, encouraging New Zealanders to do their bit and apply to be a census collector.

“If we want change in our communities we first have to be seen and heard – and helping deliver the census is a great way to make sure your friends, whānau and neighbours are all counted,” says Dave.…more

The life of Manono Island, is the sea!

In Samoa, artisanal fishers are a link to our cultural history and traditions. They face many challenges to their way of living especially due to climate change, overfishing and ocean pollution not to mention it is a risky job.

Depending on the ocean to make a living is not easy. Take a look into the world of small scale fisheries through the eyes of the Leiataua family from Manono-Tai.

Get an insight into a day in the life of this Fisher family, the challenges they overcome and risks they face to generate income while also providing food for their families and community.

Small scale Fisheries and Aquaculture are crucial to people's nutrition, food security, sustainable livelihoods and wellbeing.

This year is the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture #IYAFA2022 which aims to focus world attention on the role that small scale fishers, fish farmers and workers play in human wellbeing, food security and nutrition.…more

Travel to Samoa to get an insight into the incredible work of Ruta Rae-Aikin and Kelvin Bell of Faala Palauli, Savaii who built 'Rea Farms' and 'Florence's Homestay Accommodation' from the ground up over the last three years.

With funding support from the World Bank Pacific funded SAFPROM Matching Grant Program, the dynamic duo were able to expand production and increase productivity in their agribusinesses which means communities, visitors and hospitality businesses in Savaii have consistent access to fresh organic meat and vegetables.

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For 22 weeks, nearly 200 young people from around the Gold Coast & Brisbane area, gave up the majority of their weekends to learn about their Samoan culture through song & dance at the largest Samoan performing arts school in Queensland - Vasa Gold Coast 

The peforming arts school group whose ages ranged from 5 - 21 years then presented a fiafia showcase at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre on the 30th of September 2022 in front of a packed arena.  The show also featured recently crowned Miss Samoa 22/23 Haylani Pearl Kuruppu who performed a solo dance to 'Sosefina' and the taualuga at the conclusion of the performance.

We spoke to Lapi Mariner and Logovi'i Tupa'i who tutored vocals and taught the group Samoan songs, about their experience with the show and why it's important for our children to know their culture and heritage.  (Video above)

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You can check out the full performance from the night below.…more

Over a decade ago, Fogālepolo Lepou (Paul) and wife Joan decided to pack up and move from New Zealand to Samoa, driven by a duty to his mother, Su’a Siapo Suisui Faiga Ripley Lepou, and her restless dreams of making something her family land in Fasito’o-uta, Samoa.

What started off as an exercise in honouring a parents’ wish eventually evolved into a journey of self discovery for Paul, who found himself re-connecting with his culture, family and the land. Paul and Joan built and developed the Ifiele'ele Plantation, a stunning organic farm retreat offering accommodation.

Today it is a living tribute to an inherited dream and a celebration of the inextricable bonds between family, land and traditions in Samoan culture.

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Film credits:
Created with funding support from World Bank Pacific for the SAFPROM Project
Film maker/Editor: Denisa Manaskova
Producer: Liz Ah Hi/ Fine Mat Creative